Swinging mailbox



Sept. 19, 1950 H. c. BERGSTROM SWINGING MAILBOX Filed July '7, 1948 Z CLBeryaZram INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES. PTENT OFFICE SWINGING MAILBOX Hilmer C. Bergstrom, Herman, Minn.

Application July '7, 1948, Serial No. 37,340

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to mail box construction and particularly to mail boxes used in rural districts wherein they are placed adjacent to the side of the road, so that the mail carrier will have easy access thereto without the necessity of alighting from his vehicle in order to deposit mail or packages in the box.

An important object of the invention is to provide a mail box of this character, including a pivot arm so constructed and arranged that it will support the mail box proper, at a point for easy access from a vehicle, but at the same time the support will swing clear of the road when engaged by a moving object, such as a snow plow, road grader or vehicle moving too close thereto, the mail box returning to its normal position automatically after the moving vehicle or object has passed the mail box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivoted mail box supporting arm movable to its normal position by means of a coiled spring, there being provided means for normally holding the arm and mail box against movement under wind pressure.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mail box supporting post constructed in accordance with the invention as positioned in the ground surface, and supporting a mail box.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view through the post, the main tubular section of the post being shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises the tubular base 5, which is provided with the cross plate 6 welded thereto at a point where the same will be embedded in the ground surface, thereby providing means forpreventing turning or rotation of. the tubular base 5, after it has been properlypositioned.

The upper end of the tubular base is beveled providing the inclined surface 1 against which the beveled lower edge of the collar 8 engages, the collar 8 being secured to the arm 9 which provides the main section of the mail box supthe coiled spring l2 extends, the coiled spring I2 60 2,079,510

being coiled around the arm 9 with its lower end extended through the tube [3, which is secured to the outer surface of the tubular base 5 adjacent to the upper end thereof, the lower extremity of the coiled spring being extended at right angles as at M, preventing the spring from being removed.

When positioning the coiled spring l2, the spring is twisteclin such a way as to be placed under tension to hold the arm 9 in its normal position.

The upper end of the arm [5 extends laterally and the extremity thereof is flattened at It providing a support for the mail box indicated at A and shown in dotted lines.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, the mail box A will be supported in a position adjacent to the side of a road so that the mail delivery man will have easy access thereto without alighting from his vehicle, and at the same time the arm will swing clear of the road, when engaged by a moving object, such as a road scraper, snow plow or other vehicle, the spring returning the arm to its normal position when the object striking the upper end of the arm has passed by the arm.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

A rural mail box support comprising a tubular base supported in an upright position, the upper end of the base being beveled, a vertical supporting arm rotatably mounted within the upper end of the tubular base, said vertical supporting arm having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein, a collar secured to the arm, the lower end of the collar being beveled and resting on the beveled end of the tubular base restricting rotary movement of the arm with respect to the tubular base, a vertical tube secured to the outer surface of the tubular base adjacent to the upper end thereof, a spring coiled around the arm, one end of the spring being disposed in an opening of the supporting arm, the lower end of the spring being elongated and disposed in the vertical tube for movement longitudinally thereof, said spring normally urging the arm in one direction, and the upper end of the arm being disposed laterally providing a mail box support.

HILMER C. BERGSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,753,506 Florine Apr. 8, 1930 King et a1. May 4, 1937 

